Implementation of 'Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism' (LIVE) Training Courses

The objective of this project is to strengthen community resilience to violent extremism and radicalization that lead to terrorism (VERLT) through an effective implementation of the ‘Leaders against Intolerance and Violent Extremism’ (LIVE) training courses. LIVE aims to raise awareness, and encourage and coach local civil society leaders to voluntarily, safely and efficiently speak up and take action against VERLT in a way that respects human rights and ensures a level of planning that enhances the impact and sustainability of their community work.

Background

The LIVE initiative has its roots in the 2015 OSCE Ministerial Council Declaration 4/15 on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that lead to Terrorism. Echoing the United Nations Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, it states that including civil society is imperative to effectively address all aspects of violent extremism.

Civil society plays a crucial role in a whole-of-society approach to preventing VERLT. As part of the OSCE’s holistic approach to security, the inclusion of civil society actors is integral in the organization’s efforts to address conditions conducive to terrorism, and to prevent intolerance and violent extremism to take root and spread in local communities. Civil society actors are often well- positioned, credible and experienced in working with specific groups to help identify and address the circumstances that make individuals more vulnerable to the influence of violent extremist groups. This holds particularly true with regard to taking action to change narratives of violence, intolerance and dehumanization, which play a central role in mobilizing individuals for VERLT, by promoting messages of mutual understanding, tolerance and diversity.

Expected Results

The LIVE Initiative seeks to promote context-specific efforts against violent extremism across the OSCE area developed and led by civil society at the grassroots level. Through three different training courses, tailored to women, youth and community leaders, LIVE aims at strengthening participants’ understanding of violent extremism as well as human-rights compliant ways to prevent and tackle it. In addition, the courses provide individuals with relevant skills to address local manifestations of violent extremism and to develop their own action ideas with a focus on prevention, conflict resolution, critical thinking and strategic communication. It also strengthens participants’ knowledge and ability to engage with other stakeholders, including law enforcement and other authorities. While the training curricula are designed for use across the OSCE area, regionally tailored train-the-trainer courses prepare a cadre of trainers in South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia to use the curricula in, and further adapt them to, their national and local contexts.